September 19

140 – It is a marvel to behold, a model for us to follow, and a message we should spread: let the wicked people around you drive you to God and fellowship and prayer that ignites your soul to pray with all your might.  It’s either this or the evil will make you crazy, thrash your faith, or worse spur you to join in the evil.  One wise old army chaplain we know once said, “any bulldog can whoop a skunk – but is it worth it?… yes, you can win, but what does your life smell like afterward?”  Go to God and take up grievances with Him.  He knows what to do with wicked things, wicked movements, wicked people.  And you come out of it clean, more Spirit-filled, refreshed, renewed…for starters.

141 – This is a beautiful Psalm done in the prayer closet that can save David (and all of us) from being taken down a road paved with anguish. David is asking God to keep his own soul from succumbing to sin.  David in his heart does not want to sin; in deed, in word, in thought, in gluttony.  He wants to be open to the correction and exhortation of peers and friends – for “faithful are the wounds of a friend.”  This Psalm reminds of the intriguing lyrics from “Come Thou Fount”   — ‘prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.  Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it. Seal it for Thy Courts above.”

142 – David is hard pressed and feeling trapped by Saul and the army Saul commissioned to finish him.  This Psalm matches the events he is going through that we read about in I Samuel 22 & 24.  These are very tense times and David is … yes, he is praying through all of this.  It makes him a better warrior in every way

143 – David is deep in prayer and is pained beyond what he has known. It feels more personal this time. There is extra pathos in this prayer.  All things considered, this is probably the prayer he says to God during the rebellion of Absalom against him.  This battle stings unlike the others because his own son is out to take him down. That’s pain. Verse 11 contains the best reply, “revive me Yahweh, for your name’s sake.  In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.”

144 – This is a battle song that David wrote. It is worthy of chanting as they go out to battle. Some of you have relatives in the military or are in the military yourselves.  Music is rousing and builds up the soul for the fight that lies ahead. King Jehoshaphat put the musicians in the front. We remember that in the American Revolution the drummers and flute players marched in front of the soldiers to lift their spirits.  There was the Battle Hymn of the Republic to help get through the Civil War, The Star Spangled Banner to encourage those trapped behind British lines during the war of 1812… The list goes back as far as victorious battles have been fought.  David uses this one that we read today to get through the battle, show devotion to God and remind all that it is God who gives the victory.

145 – is the Psalm that has the markings of what is read aloud and sung to God in the aftermath of a battle where God has given the victory yet again.  There’s not a hint of self-talk about how strong or smart or quick or keen “weare…” No.  It is all mindful of God’s goodness, power, might and provision to give victory and supply and it interestingly morphs into talk of how God cares for all His creation; namely those who call on His Name.